You Can’t Just Sit There
By Pastor Jerry A. Burns
Several years ago, a man named Larry Walters decided he wanted a new perspective on life. So he strapped forty-five helium weather balloons to a lawn chair, packed a sandwich and a BB gun, and expected to rise about 100 feet. Instead, he shot up over 11,000 feet, drifting straight into the air traffic pattern near Los Angeles International Airport. Too frightened to shoot the balloons and come down, he floated for hours, disrupting flights across the country. When reporters asked why he did it, his answer was simple: “Because you can’t just sit there.”
There is something in that statement that resonates with all of us. God has placed within the human heart a desire to move, to act, to live with purpose. We were not created to drift through life in a lawn chair of comfort and boredom. We were made to serve, to obey, to step forward in faith. The problem is not the desire to do something — it’s what we attach our lives to. Walters tied himself to balloons of his own choosing, without wisdom, without counsel, and without understanding the consequences. His need for movement became reckless drifting.
As a pastor, I’ve seen both extremes. Some believers are paralyzed by fear — afraid to serve, afraid to witness, afraid to step into what God is calling them to do. Others rush ahead without prayer, without Scripture, without seeking the Lord’s direction. One group never leaves the ground. The other floats into dangerous airspace. The key is not just movement — it’s Spirit-led movement.
“You can’t just sit there” is true — but neither can you just launch yourself on impulse. The will of God gives us both purpose and boundaries. When we wait on Him, we don’t drift — we soar safely. When we move in obedience, we don’t disrupt — we build. When we step out by faith, anchored to truth, we don’t panic at 11,000 feet — we trust the One who rules the heavens.
Don’t sit in spiritual apathy. But don’t strap yourself to worldly balloons either. Ask the Lord what He would have you to do — and then do it with all your might.
Ask yourself today: Am I sitting still in spiritual complacency, or am I moving forward under God’s direction? Take one clear, prayerful step of obedience — whether it’s sharing your faith, beginning that ministry opportunity, restoring a relationship, or deepening your time in the Word. Don’t drift impulsively, but don’t remain idle either. Trust the Lord, seek His guidance, and then step forward in faith.
"And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen." — Psalm 72:19
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This Week's Radio Program
Week Forty-Four • November 1, 2026
What are you Seeking?
In this week’s message titled "What are you Seeking?" from Kitchener Baptist Church, Pastor Jerry A. Burns explores John 20 to show how the world searches for meaning in the wrong places. Listeners will hear how Solomon looked for purpose in worldly success and pleasures only to find vanity, and how Mary Magdalene sought her Savior at the tomb, weeping for the dead before discovering He had risen.
Pastor Burns reminds us that true life is found only in Jesus Christ. The reality of Christ gives us life, and His resurrection is the key to our salvation and eternal life. We must choose life, for Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Join us on "Timeless Truths" as we turn to God's Word for these vital answers.
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